Interlocking window framing system



pt 12, 1967 I E. w. COLLARD 3,340,663

INTERLOCKING WINDOW FRAMING SYSTEM F'iled June 17, 1965 a Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I 1/6 /20 62 [94 f 94/ 390 Earl w Collard INVENTOR.

BY WWW Sept. 12,. 1967 v E. w. COLLARD 3,340,663

INTERLOCKING WINDOW FRAMING SYSTEM Filed June 17, 1965' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1967 E. w. COLLARD INTERLOCKING WINDOW FRAMING SYSTE Filed Jun 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 7

Earl W. Col/0rd INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,340,663 INTERLOCKING WINDOW FRAMING SYSTEM Earl W. Collard, 2714 Mountain Ave., El Paso, Tex. 79930 Filed June 17, 1965, Ser. No. 464,716 12 Claims. (Cl. 52-498) The present invention is generally concerned with window construction, and more particularly relates to a. Window framing system utilized in the mounting of preformed panel or window units within a wall opening.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a framing system, including jamb, mullion, head and sill units, which will laterally receive and retain one or more preformed .window units through use of snap-on cover and face plates.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to provide for a window retaining framing system which eliminates the necessity of maintaining close tolerances in either the formation of the window opening in the wall or in the formation of the window panels themselves while at the same time accommodating any contemplated expansion or contraction of the window unit.

Likewise, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide jamb, mullion, head and sill units which while unique in and of themselves, also, cooperate in the formation of an overall system presenting heretofore unavailable advantages insofar as simplicity of construction and installation are concerned.

Also, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a means for anchoring a window unit within a framing system without the necessity of utilizing screws, rivets or bolts, thereby substantially reducing the installation time.

Basically, the system of the instant invention comprises an elongated sill member consisting of a wide web in conjunction with an elongated upwardly directed flange receiving recess and an elongated upwardly directed flange seat parallel to and laterally spaced from the recess, both the recess and seat acting so as to locate and retain the bottom rail or sill of a window unit. In addition, the framing system includes similarly formed jamb and head units comprising, in each instance, a wide elongated web having a perpendicularly directed abutment flange along one edge thereof, the window unit, being introduced into the surround or frame formed by the sill, jambs and head, and engaged against the abutment flange. In addition, each of the jamb and head units includes a cover plate capable of being snapped into engagement with the other longitudinal edge of the corresponding web, after the introduction of the window unit, so as to, in effect, clamp the window unit between the corresponding cover plate and abutment flange. Finally, the system also includes a mullion unit positionable between adjacent window units and including, in addition to a wide elongated web, a back or abutment plate, against which the adjacent edges of the window units are mounted, and a forward face or cover plate which snaps into engagement with the edge of the mullion web opposite from the back plate so as to effect a clamping of the adjacent window units between the mullion back plate and the mullion face plate. In order to effect the snap mounting of the various cover and face plates, laterally projecting coacting barbs or projections are provided with certain ones of the barb carrying members being capable of a slight degree of resilient lateral flexing so as to enable, through the camming surfaces on the projections, the riding of one projection of each interlocking pair over the other projection and into locking engagement therebehind in a manner which precludes a subsequent disengagement thereof.

. These together with other objects and advantages which ice will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a window utilizing the system of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the window of FIGURE 1 viewed from the inside and taken substantially upon a plane passing along line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the individual components thereof exploded apart for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along line 44 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view detailing the manner of engaging the jamb or head cover plate;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view detailing the manner of engaging the mullion face plate;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along line 77 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a partial perspective view of the mullion member or bar of the mullion unit;

FIGURE 9 is a partial perspective view of the face plate utilized with the member of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a partial perspective view of the frame member common to both the jamb and the head of the framing system;

FIGURE 11 is a partial perspective view of the cover plate utilized in conjunction with the member of FIGURE 0; and

FIGURE 12 is a partial perspective view of the sill unit or sub-sill.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, attentron is initially directed to FIGURE 1 wherein a window construction utilizing the features of the instant invention is illustrated. This construction includes, in addition to the window panel units 20, a framing system comprising a sill member or sub-sill 22, a head unit 24, jamb units 26 and a central mullion unit 28. This framing system is utilized in mounting the window units 20 within a preformed wall opening 30 in a manner which provides for a simple and secure mounting of the units 20 without the necessity of maintaining close tolerances.

Referring first to the sill member or sub-sill 22, this member extending the full width of the window opening 30 and being fastened to the bottom edge theerof in a suitable manner such as by driven screws 32, attention is particularly directed to FIGURES 4 and 12. This subsill 22 includes a relatively wide web 34, in this particular instance provided with an outwardly sloping intermediate portion. Further, the member 22 is provided with a depending edge positioning flange 36 engageable against the face of the wall immediately below the bottom edge of the openings 30, and a pair of full length depending support legs 38 terminating in laterally directed feet 40. In order to amount the panel unit 20 on the sub-sill 22, the sub-sill is provided with both an upwardly directed flange receiving recess 42 and an upwardly directed seat or shoulder 44. Both the recess 42 and the seat 44 are provided so as to accommodate inner and outer depending full length flanges 46 and 48 on the bottom rail 50 of the window unit 20.

The full length recess 42 is formed by the provision of a perpendicularly directed vertical front flange 52 extending upwardly from the inner edge of the web 34, and a second upwardly extending vertical flange 54 parallel to and spaced laterally from the flange 52 a distance so as to snugly receive the lower edge of the bottom rail flange 46 in the recess 42 formed therebetween. The seat or shoulder 44 for the outer rail flange 48 constitutes the horizontal portion of a notch along the outer upper edge of a vertically projecting relatively thick flange 56 projecting perpendicularly from the web 34 parallel'to and laterally spaced from the flanges 52 and 54 and located inward of the outer edge of the web 34 and the depending flange 36. The flange 48, in addition to having the lower edge thereof seated on the seat or shoulder 44, has the inner face thereof engaged against the vertical surface 58 of the seat forming notch so as to restrict the flange 48 against lateral inward movement.

As will be appreciated from a comparison of FIG- URES 2 and 4, both the head unit 24 and the jamb unit 26 are constructed in the same manner, including, in each instance, a frame member 60 and a cover plate 62. These two elements are detailed in FIGURES l and 11 with the interengagement therebetween being best shown in FIGURE 5. The frame member 60 includes an elongated relatively wide web 64 fixed, depending upon its use, to either the side or top edges of the window opening 30 by suitable driven fasteners 66, while being spaced slightly therefrom by short legs 68. Projecting perpendicularly inward from a first longitudinal edge of the frame member web 64 is an abutment flange 70, this flange 70 including a longitudinally outward offset or stepped portion 72 so as to form, in conjunction with an adjacent support leg 68, an integral caulking pocket 74. The opposite or second longitudinal edge of the web 64 is provided with a longitudinally extending outwardly opening recess 76 formed by a pair of parallel longitudinally extending and laterally offset edge portions 78, thereby locating the recess 76 substantially coplanar with the web 64 itself. Finally, an intermediate flange 80 is provided inward of the recessed second edge of the web 64, this intermediate flange 80 projecting perpendicularly inward from the web and terminating in a right angularly directed portion 82 which extends toward the recessed edge of the web 64 in laterally spaced parallel relation to the web 64. This portion 82 of the intermediate flange 80 is in turn provided, adjacent the free edge thereof, with a longitudinally extending locking projection 84 having a leading camming face 86 and a planar locking face or shoulder 88 extending either substantially perpendicularly or at a generally acute angle to the flange portion 82.

The cover plate 62 is planar and of a length generally equal to the length of the frame member 60. This cover plate 62 is provided with a perpendicular inwardly directed stabilizing flange 90 along one edge thereof, this flange 90 being snugly received within the edge recess 76. In addition, a relatively wider locking flange 92 is provided parallel to and laterally inward of the flange 90. This locking flange 92, includes, along the inner free edge thereof, a locking bead or projection 94 facing in a direc tion opposite from the locking projection 84 and similarly including a camming face 96 along the leading edge thereof and a generally perpendicular locking shoulder 98 engageable with the shoulder 88 for locking the cover plate 62 to the frame member 60. The actual manner of interlocking the projections 84 and 95 is illustrated in FIGURE wherein it will be noted that as the cover plate 62 is moved inwardly toward the frame member 60, the adjoining camming surfaces 86 and 96 produce a slight resilient lateral flexing of the locking flange 92 so as to allow the projection 94 to ride over the projection 84. As soon as the projection 94 has passed behind the projection 84, the resilient nature of the locking flange 92 immediately snaps the locking projection 94 behind the projection 84 with the abutting shoulders 88 and 98 preventing a subsequent disengagement or removal of the cover plate 62. In the meantime, the stabilizing flange 90 has been introduced into the recess 76, thereby preventing any tilting of the cover plate 62 in a manner which might disengage the locking projections 84 and 94.

Thus, utilizing the above detailed frame system construction, it will be appreciated that the window panel 20 can be quickly and simply mounted within a pre-framed window opening 30 by merely laterally introducing the unit 20 and moving the flanges 46 and 48 of the bottom rail 50 downwardly into the sill member recess 42 and seat 44 with the side and top rails of the unit 20 being abutted against the abutment flanges 70, suitable sealing strips 100 being provided on the inner or abutting faces of the flanges 70. Next, in order to complete the mounting of the unit 20, the cover plates 62 are snapped into position, thereby substantially fixedly clamping the side and top rails of the unit 20 between the inner faces of the cover plates 62 and the abutment flanges 70. Incidentally, inasmuch as the engagement of each window unit 20 with the jamb and head framing units is achieved by a frictional clamping arrangement, rather than any specific mechanical fastener, and in view of the relative depth of the flanges of both the unit rails and the frame units, ample provision is made for the expansion and contraction normally associated with such constructions. Further, and also highly significant, is the fact that the above described mounting arrangement eliminates the necessity of the heretofore required extremely close construction tolerances.

Referring now specifically to the construction of the mullion unit 28, utilized between adjacent window units 20 as shown in the drawings, attention is specific-ally directed to FIGURES 2, 3, 8 and 9. The mullion unit 28, utilized as a system stiffening and expansion compensating means, consists basically of an elongated mullion member 102 and an elongated face plate 104. The mullion member 102 includes an elongated relatively wide web 106 having an elongated back plate 108 orientated transversely across one edge thereof and projecting perpendicularly from both sides of the web 106.

The opposite longitudinal edge of the mullion member web 106 includes a pair of laterally offset edge portions 110 defining in effect a recess 112 therebetween coplanar with the web 106. Each of these laterally offset edge portions 110 includes, along the full length thereof, an outwardly directed locking projection 114 rearward of the forward edge thereof, these locking projections 114 being formed in the same manner as the projections 84 and similarly including a generally perpendicular locking shoulder and a camming forward edge leading to the shoulder.

The face plate 104, consisting in effect of a flat elongated plate, includes a pair of laterally spaced perpendicularly projecting locking members or flanges 116 spaced equidistant laterally outward from the longitudinal center of the base plate 104. Each of these locking members or flanges 116 has, integral with the inner or free edge thereof, a full length locking projection 118 engageable with the projections 114 in the same manner noted supra with regard to projections 84 and 94 the flanges 116 being capable of a slightly resilient outward flexing upon engagement of the mating camming faces as will best be appreciated from FIGURE 6. Further, it will be appreciated that, once engaged, disengagement of the face plate 104 from the mullion member 102 is for all practical purposes virtually impossible, thereby providing a permanent window construction. Both the face plate 104 and the back plate 108 are to preferably be provided with full length sealing strips 120 so as to provide a positive seal with the window units 20 as the face plate 104 is brought into clamping engagement with the mullion member 102 with the window units 20 clamped therebetween in a manner which, as will be appreciated from FIG. 2, provides an accommodation for any of the normal expansion and contraction.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1, 7 and 8, it will be noted that the mullion member back plate 108 projects longitudinally beyond both ends of the corresponding web 106, thereby enabling a positioning of the web 106 vertically between the sub-sill 22 and the top or head frame member 60 while the back plate 108 continues into substantial abutting engagement with the top edge of the window opening 30 and the top of the sub-sill 22, thereby overlapping the joint between the bottom rail flange 48 and its seat 44, and the head frame member abutment flange 70 and the top rail received thereagainst. The cover plate 104 is in turn of a length generally equal to the length of the web 106 and extends from the upper edge of the sill flange 52 to the lower edge of the cover plate of the head frame unit 24, the mounting of this face plate 104 resulting in an inward drawing of the back plate 108 into sealed engagement, with the sealing strips 120 themselves compensating for planar diiferences while still maintaining an effective weather seal.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a highly novel window framing system has' been defined, this system enabling one or more window panel units to be quickly, simply and economically installed by merely positioning the units within a pre-installed frame and subsequently snapping retaining cover and facing plates to the installed portions of the frame. In addition, through the unique construction thereof, the framing system provides for the compensation of both expansion and contraction and eliminates the necessity of extremely close tolerances such as is required in connection with conventional window construction.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suit-able modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A window framing system utilized in the mounting of at least one preformed panel unit within a wall opening, said system including an elongated framing member, said member having a wide web, an abutment flange projecting perpendicularly from one longitudinal edge of said web, the second longitudinal edge of said web having a longitudinally extending recess therein opening outwardly of and in generally the same plane as the web, and an intermediate flange projecting perpendicularly from said web on the same side thereof as the abutment flange, said intermediate flange having the longitudinal outer portion thereof right angularly bent so as to generally parallel the web and project toward the second end of the web in a plane inward of the free end of the abutment flange and outward of that portion of the web defining the recess, said outer portion having the free edge thereof located rearward of the recess, and a locking means on said outer portion adjacent the free edge thereof, and a cover plate, said cover plate having a stabilizing flange projecting perpendicularly from one longitudinal edge thereof and receivable in the framing member recess, and a locking flange of greater width than said stabilizing flange projecting perpendicularly from the cover plate inward of and generally parallel to the stabilizing flange, said locking flange being positionable adjacent the outer portion of the framing member intermediate flange and including locking means engageable with the outer portion locking means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein both of said locking means comprise laterally directed projections, the locking flange on said cover plate being capable of a slight lateral flexing so as to enable an engagement of the cover plate locking projection behind the framing member locking projection.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the leading edges of said projections, as the cover plate is moved toward the framing member, are angled so as to allow the cover plate projection to ride over the framing member projection.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said system includes a mullion unit disposable between adjacent panel units and forming a system stiffening and expansion compensating means therebetween, said mullion unit comprising an elongated mullion member and a face plate, said mullion member having an elongated wide web and an elongated back plate, said back plate being fixed transversely across one longitudinal edge of said web so as to project perpendicularly from both sides of the mullion web, said mullion web including locking means thereon adjacent the second longitudinal edge thereof, said face plate having a centrally located locking means fixed thereto and projecting inwardly therefrom for locking engagement with the mullion web locking means.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the locking means on the mullion web comprises at least one laterally directed projection, said face plate locking means comprising at least one inwardly projecting locking member of a width suflicient so as to enable the location of the free inner edge thereof inward of the mullion web projection, and a laterally directed projection, on said face plate locking member engageable behind the mullion web projection.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein the locking means on the mullion web comprises a pair of oppositely directed laterally extending projections, one on each side of the mullion web, said face plate locking means comprising a pair of parallel laterally spaced locking flanges projecting inwardly from the face plate a distance sufficient so as to enable the location of the free inner edges thereof inward of the mullion web projections, the space between the face plate locking flanges being sufficient so as to accommodate the projection bearing edge of the mullion web, and a lateral inwardly directed projection on each face plate flange engageable behind the adjacent mullion web projection, said face plate flanges being capable of a slight lateral flexing so as to enable a movement of the cover plate flanges over the mullion web flanges as the second edge of the mullion web is positioned in the space between the cover plate locking flanges.

7. The structure of claim 4 wherein said system includes a sill member disposable beneath a preformed panel unit, said sill member having an elongated relatively wide web, first means along one edge portion of the sill member web defining a perpendicularly opening elongated recess capable of receiving a panel unit flange therein, and second means along said sill member web parallel to and spaced from the first means thereon, this second means defining a flange receiving shoulder facing in the same direction relative to the sill web as the sill recess.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said system includes a sill member disposable beneath a preformed panel unit, said sill member having an elongated relatively wide web, first means along one edge portion of the sill member web defining a perpendicularly opening elongated recess capable of receiving a panel unit flange therein, and second means along said sill member web, parallel to and spaced from the first means thereon, this second means defining a flange receiving shoulder facing in the same direction relative to the sill web, as the sill recess.

9. The structure of claim 4 wherein said framing member consittutes a head frame spanning the adjacent panel units, said mullion unit engaging said head frame at right angles, the mullion web having the upper end thereof extending transversely across the head frame immediately therebelow, the mullion member back plate projecting longitudinally beyond the upper end of the mullion web and abutting against one side of said head frame.

10. For use in a panel framing system, an elongated framing member, said member having a wide web, an

abutment flange projecting perpendicularly from said web near one longitudinal edge thereof, the second longitu dinal edge of said web having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally offset edge portions defining a longitudinally extending recess therebetween opening outwardly of and in generally the same plane as the web, and an intermediate flange projecting generally perpendicularly from said web on the same side thereof as the abutment flange, said intermediate flange having the longitudinal outer portion thereof angularly bent so as to generally parallel the web and projecting toward the second end of the web in a plane inward of the free end of the abutment flange and outwardly of the corresponding oflset edge portion that defines said recess, said outer portion having the free edge thereof located rearwardly of the second longitudinal edge, and a locking means on said outer portion adjacent the free edge thereof, and a cover plate, said cover plate having a stabilizing flange projecting perpendicularly from one longitudinal edge portion thereof and receivable in the framing member recess, and a locking flange projecting perpendicularly from the cover plate generally parallel to the stabilizing flange, said locking flange being positionable adjacent the outer portion of the framing member intermediate flange and including locking means engageable with the outer portion locking means.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein said abutment flange, laterally outward of said web, is longitudinally offset relative to said one longitudinal edge of the web whereby a caulking pocket is defined generally perpendicular with said Web.

12. A framing member for a panel framing system comprising an elongated relatively wide web, an abutment flange projecting generally perpendicularly from one longitudinal edge of said web and including an outer edge portion laterally oflset in a direction away from said Web whereby a generally right angular pocket is defined longitudinally along said one longitudinal edge, the second longitudinal edge of said web having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally offset spaced edge portions defining a longitudinally extending outwardly opening recess therebetween in generally the plane of said Web, and an intermediate flange projecting generally perpendicularly from said web on the same side thereof as the abutment flange, said intermediate flange having the longitudinal outer portion thereof angularly bent so as to generally parallel the web and project toward the second end of the web in a plane inward of the free end of the abutment flange and outward of the corresponding offset edge portion which defines the recess, said outer portion having the free edge thereof located rearwardly ofthe second longitudinal edge of the web, and a locking means on the outer portion for cooperation with a mating locking means on a cover plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,081,850 3/1963 Hubbard 52731 3,125,194 3/1964 Kimmel et a1. 5273l 3,140,763 7/1964 Edelstein 52-502 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. A WINDOW FRAMING SYSTEM UTILIZED IN THE MOUNTING OF AT LEAST ONE PERFORMED PANEL UNIT WITHIN A WALL OPENING, SAID SYSTEM INCLUDING AN ELONGATED FRAMING MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING A WIDE WEB, AN ABUTMENT FLANGE PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY FROM ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID WEB, THE SECOND LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID WEB HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RECESS THEREIN OPENING OUTWARDLY OF AND IN GENERALLY THE SAME PLANE AS THE WEB, AND AN INTERMEDIATE FLANGE PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAID WEB ON THE SAME SIDE THEREOF AS THE ABUTMENT FLANGE, SAID INTERMEDIATE FLANGE HAVING THE LONGITUDINAL OUTER PORTION THEREOF RIGHT ANGULARLY BENT SO AS TO GENERALLY PARALLEL THE WEB AND PROJECT TOWARD THE SECOND END OF THE WEB IN A PLANE INWARD OF THE FREE END OF THE ABUTMENT FLANGE AND OUTWARD OF THAT PORTION OF THE WEB DEFINING THE RECESS, SAID OUTER PORTION HAVING THE FREE EDGE THEREOF LOCATED REARWARD OF THE RECESS, AND A LOCKING MEANS ON SAID OUTER PORTION ADJACENT THE FREE EDGE THEREOF, AND A COVER PLATE, SAID COVER PLATE HAVING A STABILIZING FLANGE PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY FROM ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF AND RECEIVABLE IN THE FRAMING MEMBER RECESS, AND A LOCKING FLANGE OF GREATER WIDTH THAN SAID STABILIZING FLANGE PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE COVER PLATE INWARD OF AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE STABILIZING FLANGE, SAID LOCKING FLANGE BEING POSITIONABLE ADJACENT THE OUTER PORTION OF THE FRAMING MEMBER INTERMEDIATE FLANGE AND INCLUDING LOCKING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OUTER PORTION LOCKING MEANS. 